Rail-support



(No Model.)

W. B. POTTER.

' RAIL SUPPORT.

No. 575,782. Patnted Jan. 26. 1897.

E55 EEI UNITED STATES PATENT GEE-10E.

WILLIAM B. POTTER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

RAlL-SU PPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,? 82, dated January26, 1897'.

Application filed. August 25, 1896- Serial No. 603,918. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. POTTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Supports, (D. 419,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to supports for the conducting-rails of electricrailways operated by the so-called third-rail system, and has for itsobject to provide an insulating-support capable of ready attachment tothe rail, yet which may be conveniently removed from it if occasiondemands.

To this end my improved rail-support con sists of a base carrying a massof insulating material, a metallic cap upon the insulator, andattachments between the cap and the rail, the particular form shownconsisting of lugs which may be passed up over the flange of the railthrough notches cut therein, the insulator then being slipped along to asolid part of the flange, the lugs engaging with the flange andmaintaining the insulator and rail in place.

The accompanying drawings show my invention, Figure 1 being aperspective of a portion of the rail and the insulator about to beapplied thereto, Fig. 2 being a plan of a part of the rail.

A is the base of the insulator.

B is a petticoat of porcelain or other insulating material.

0 is a metallic cap secured to the porcelain in any suitable way, as bycement.

D D are lugs adapted to engage the flange E of the rail. These lugs areplaced at opposite extremities of the diameter of the cap, and areradially disposed upon it.

At 6 I have shown a notch cut away in the rail.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the rail as formed with the notch e in itsflange on one side only, or in an alternative form as having two notchese 6. Where the single notch is employed, one of the lugs D would beplaced over the rail, the insulator being tipped to permit this and theother one then brought up through the notch. The insulator would then heslipped along on the flange and secured in position. Where, however, thetwo notches e are used, the insulator could be applied directly frombelow by raising it into position, the two lugs registering with the twonotches, and then sliding it along, as before.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. The combination in an insulating-support for a third rail, of a bodyof insulating material carrying a metallic cap, the cap provided withlugs adapted to register with notches in the rail-flange.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an insulating-support for arailway-rail, comprising a body of insulating material, a metallic capsecured thereto, and oppositely-placed radial lugs upon the metallic capadapted to register with notches in the rail-flange.

3. The combination with an insulator, comprising a body of insulatingmaterial and a metallic cap provided with lugs, of a rail having notchesin its flange registering with the lugs upon the insulator.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of August,1896.

\VILLIAM B. POTTER.

Vitnesses:

A. F. MACDONALD, E. W. OADY.

